Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson, once a highly touted professional wrestling prospect who flamed out after two-plus years, has found a new athletic venture: the NFL. ESPN Senior Writer Adam Schefter broke the news Friday that the Buffalo Bills had signed Steveson to a standard three-year rookie deal to play defensive tackle for their team, despite the two-time NCAA champion certainly lacking in experience at that role. Schefter noted that "the first time Steveson ever put on a pair of cleats was at a recent workout for the Bills.
" Gable Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist and one of the most dominant college wrestlers in NCAA history, is signing with the Bills, per his agent Carter Chow. Steveson now will try to join Bob Hayes as the only athlete to win a Super Bowl ring and an Olympic gold medal. pic.
twitter.com/TfJn4Cd7B1 WWE signed Steveson, who won the gold medal in the 125 kg weight class for freestyle wrestling at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, in September 2021 to much fanfare. He even was drafted to Raw the following year despite never having wrestled a match.
His one televised bout came in a poorly received match against Baron Corbin at NXT's Great American Bash in July 2023. The company released Steveson last month reportedly because he " wasn't cutting it " as a wrestler, according to Dave Meltzer, citing his wrestling ability, lack of charisma, and minimal crowd responses during his handful of dark matches. Despite being a gifted athlete, Steveson will have his work.
